Comic-Con 2011: GAME OF THRONES Panel Recap

At the Game of Thrones panel at Comic-Con, author George R. R. Martin moderated select cast and crew (Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Jason Momoa, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and creators David Benioff & D.B Weiss) as they discussed the forthcoming second season and beyond, special features on the first season’s bluray/dvd, what initially hooked them to the show and how they would end the book series – if they were Martin. For highlights from the panel, read beyond.

Next Time On A Game Of Thrones:

(Mild spoilers to follow)

Weiss and Benioff talked extensively about the upcoming new season – in particular that fans of the book and T.V. series can look forward to watching the dragons and dire wolves grow older and bigger, as well as the introduction of the red priestess – a prophet who can foresee partial future events (the recently cast Carice Van Houten). Benioff stated that going forward the T.V. show would have to divert from the one book = one season formula. The third book is just too big to be contained in ten episodes. Either two seasons or a season + an abbreviated half season would be needed to do the lengthy book justice. Benioff confided that his entire mission when taking on the television adaptation was to get to the third book’s climatic R.W. segment (I’m being deliberately cagey with the abbreviation as not to spoil the event for non-book readers). Martin responded that when the show reaches said climax, he’ll probably move to a country that doesn’t have televisions as to avoid having to watch and relive the moment again (in addition to more-than-likely viewer outrage)

Martin confirmed that he is currently writing the second season’s climatic Battle of Blackwater and jokingly sought donations from the audience to get the television sequence to match the grandiosity of what was on the page. Regardless of budgetary concerns, he promises there will be battle.

Miscellaneous Tidbits From The Panel:

On the upcoming DVD/bluray of the first season, there will be no deleted scenes – as everything that was shot made it into the show; however those who wish to watch the actors’ first audition tapes will be more than satiated (special mention was given to Jason Mamoa’s audition which supposedly features him ripping off his shirt and breaking into dance.)

Speaking of Momoa/Khal Drogo: he received the brunt of the questions – mostly from those lamenting his untimely demise (my favorite being from a young women wearing an Obama-Hope shirt, except instead of the president’s face, it’s Khal Drogo’s mug in red and blue.) Momoa sympathized with the condolences joking that once Drogo got offed, he threw the book across the room and since has refused to read any subsequent novels in the series. And of course the question on everyone’s mind: What would happen if Khal Drogo and Conan were put in the same room? Momoa didn’t miss a beat selling out his big screen alter ego on the dime: “Khal Drogo would beat the shit out of Conan.”

On What “Hooked” Them To The Show: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau cited the moment he (Jaime Lannister) pushes Bran off the tower as the moment he knew he was reading something special; for Kip Harrington it was the discovery of the dire wolves and for Peter Dinklage, it was the white walkers and the peripheral supernatural elements that drew him to the material.

If you were George R. R. Martin: How would you end A Song of Fire and Ice?

¨ Kip Harrington naturally advocates for his character Jon Snow to ultimately take the Iron Throne.

¨ Lena Headey gives into the Kahl Drogo memoriam and wishes for his resurrection so that he and Tyrion (The Dinklage) can co-rule together.

¨ Peter Dinklage utters two words and two words only – Dance number

¨ Finally, Martin himself states that readers can expect a bittersweet ending, as those are his favorite type. Something akin to the finale of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (the obvious precursor to Game of Thrones).

Wherever the series and books go, count me in. The second season of Game of Thrones premieres some time next year. A Dance with Dragons, the fifth book in the series, currently resides in bookstores everywhere.

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